CORNWALL Council has voted to support calls for a people’s vote on Brexit and the deal to leave the European Union.

As the Brexit deal debate got underway in the House of Commons on Tuesday the council chamber in Truro was voting on whether to back a vote on the final terms of any Brexit deal.

And after a long debate the council voted to support a people’s vote with 47 councillors in favour, 40 against and four abstaining.

As well as backing the people’s vote the motion proposed by Liberal Democrat group leader Malcolm Brown also raised a number of concerns about the potential impact that Brexit could have on Cornwall’s economy.

Cllr Brown said it was important that the council “state opinions on issues that are really important in Cornwall” and no issue was more important at present than Brexit.

He said Cornwall councillors should be looking at what outcome from Brexit would “provide the best economic prospects for Cornwall” and all evidence suggested that would be to remain in the EU.

Cllr Brown added: “If a second referendum takes place I am very confident that the result will go the other way and would be more decisive than the previous one as people are more aware of the economic disadvantages.”

The Lib Dem councillor said he believed a second referendum was the only way to resolve the current problems over Brexit.

Independent councillor Paul Wills said he was sad to see the motion was before the council.

He said: “Two years ago the people of Cornwall voted in the referendum. It was quite simple – do we stay in the European Union or do we leave? The overwhelming majority in Cornwall voted to leave.”

The St Columb Major councillor said the idea of a second vote “flies in the face of everything that I believe in” and the decision should be left to Parliament.

However Mike Thomas gave his support to the motion saying that voting was a “wonderful opportunity” and he even voted in I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here because he likes it so much.

The independent councillor said the Duchy of Cornwall wanted to see what councillors’ views were on Brexit.

Independent councillor Tim Dwelly said that while it was “no secret” that he was a remainer he said Cllr Brown’s motion was “extremely unwise”.

He said: “We have divided communities and a divided Cornwall. As councillors we are expected to concentrate on things we can do things about. This chamber will not have any vote on what happens with Brexit.

“This (motion) risks turning people against Cornwall Council.”

He added: “It could backfire and encourage anti-council and anti-Brexit sentiment.”

Conservative councillor Nick Craker said the motion was politically motivated and was due to Lib Dems not liking the result of the 2016 referendum which he said councillors should “honour and respect”.

However there was disappointment in the chamber when 21 councillors lost out on the chance to give their views after councillors voted to end the debate and go to the vote.

A second part to the motion called for the council to support the UK’s continued membership of the Council of Europe and other European bodies not linked with the EU.

It also called for the council to retain its office in Brussels and recognised the “important contribution that EU nationals make to Cornwall, both socially and economically”.

Conservative councillor Martyn Alvey said: “Lots of people would be astounded to know that Cornwall is paying to have an office in Brussels.”

That part of the motion was also supported with 49 in favour, 38 against and three abstentions.